Americans' Satisfaction With Job Aspects Up From 2005

Story Highlights

More satisfied with health benefits, vacation time

Satisfaction with job security remains near 2014 high

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Employed Americans' satisfaction with 13 aspects of their current jobs has largely improved in the last decade. The percentages of workers "completely satisfied" with their health benefits and vacation time have increased the most since 2005, each rising at least 10 percentage points.

As has been the case since Gallup began polling on aspects of Americans' jobs in 1993, employed Americans are most likely to say they are "completely satisfied" with their relations with their coworkers (72% in 2015) and the physical safety conditions of their workplace (70%). Employed Americans have typically been least likely to say they are completely satisfied with the amount of money they earn (33%) and the amount of stress they have at work (28%).

Smaller majorities of employed adults report being "completely satisfied" with the flexibility of their hours (58%), the amount of vacation time they receive (57%), their job security (57%), their boss or immediate supervisor (54%) and the amount of work that is required of them (53%).

Despite large improvements over the past 10 years in how they view many aspects of their jobs, less than half of employed Americans say they are "completely satisfied" with the recognition they receive at work for their accomplishments (45%) and the health insurance benefits their employer offers (40%). Even fewer are "completely satisfied" with the retirement plan offered (35%) and their chances for a promotion (35%).

These data are from Gallup's Aug. 5-9 Work and Education survey, conducted annually since 2001.

"Complete" Satisfaction With Job Security Remains Near Record High

Fifty-seven percent of Americans are completely satisfied with their job security, near the high of 58% recorded in 2014.

Satisfaction with job security had suffered amid the global economic crisis, falling five points in 2009 to 50%. It didn't recover in the years that immediately followed, and dipped below 50% in 2011 and 2012. By 2014, as Americans' perceptions of job creation at their companies improved, so too did their satisfaction with the security of their own jobs.

Bottom Line

For the most part, Americans' satisfaction with various aspects of their jobs is higher today than it was in 2005. But despite these improvements, no more than one in three workers are completely satisfied with their salaries, stress levels, chances for promotion and retirement plans.

As the unemployment rate, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has improved, so have employed Americans' feelings about their job security. But satisfaction with other aspects of their jobs, such as on-the-job stress, pay and promotion opportunities, still has room for improvement. On a positive note, the large majority of working Americans are satisfied with the safety of their work environment and their relationships with coworkers.

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-9, 2015, with a random sample of 485 adults employed full or part time, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

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